Pre-weaning piglet mortality is a major welfare challenge in commercial pig production. Understanding causes enables prevention that saves millions of lives annually.
Pre-weaning piglet mortality involves profound welfare costs at scale — tens of millions of piglet deaths annually globally, many involving suffering from crushing, starvation, and cold. The standard welfare solution — farrowing crates that prevent sow movement — itself causes severe welfare harm to sows confined for 4+ weeks unable to turn around. This represents a genuine welfare dilemma with no costless solution. Enriched farrowing systems with crush protection rails and straw nesting material reduce mortality while allowing greater sow movement. Breeding selection for improved maternal behavior and appropriate litter sizes, combined with stockmanship improvements in neonate monitoring, provide paths forward that reduce both piglet mortality and sow confinement.